The shelf life on closers is generally a few years. Craig Kimbrel, meanwhile, is chasing down one of the all time greats in Mariano Rivera.
In his eight full major league seasons, Kimbrel has already put together a resume that would be the envy of most any reliever. He has been a seven time All Star, leading the league in saves four times, and never having a season with fewer than 31 saves. He is still firing the ball, with one of the highest average velocities of any reliever in the game. All of that wear has not yet hampered Kimbrel in regards to getting outs.
Last season was no exception. He continued his excellent showing, posting a 2.74 ERA and a 0.995 WHiP, striking out 96 batters in 62.1 innings. However, there were troubling signs, as he walked 31 batters. Kimbrel also got hit hard in the postseason, as he had been tipping his pitches until notified by former closer Eric Gagne.
Chances are, Kimbrel will receive one of the top contracts ever given to a closer, if not a record setting deal of its own accord. Yet, those cracks in the armor, from his walk total increasing to those postseason struggles due to his tipping his pitches, are reason to pause. However, that pause will not last for long, as even with those possible red flags, Kimbrel is still the best closer in the market.
For a team needing to solidify the back of the bullpen, Craig Kimbrel is the obvious answer. The only question is – how much money will he be getting?